The 2013-2014 PrimePucks Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide has been updated. All revisions are shown in yellow highlight.  You can access the update file by going to "MY ACCOUNT" located at the top of the HOME page.  Once you are your account profile, then click on "FILES" and go to the link where you can download the latest copy.  With the season fastly approaching, we will try to have updates every few days as events warrant.  If you have any questions, you can email any of us at ray@primepucks.com, steve@rimepucks.com and mike@primepucks.com NHL News: Daniel Cleary threw everyone a curveball when he supposedly was locked up in Philadelphia but had a change of heart and signed a 1-year deal with a familiar team, the Detroit Red Wings. Cleary is nothing more than a depth player especially with the off-season acquisitions of Daniel Alfredsson and Stephen Weiss and the emerging presence of rookie Gustav Nyquist....WIth the Carolina Hurricanes losing D Joni Pitkanen for the season with a heel injury, they needed to shore up their defense and did so with the 1-year signing of veteran defenseman Ron Hainsey. The veteran defender brings with him the experience and some offensive capabilities but don't expect much. PrimePucks continues to bring you the NHL IN 30 every day in the month of September, bringing you in-depth team analysis for the upcoming season. Today we analyze one of the Original Six teams, The Toronto Maple Leafs!  Don't forget to check back each and every day for the latest featured team! ***ATTENTION FANTASY HOCKEY LEAGUE COMMISSIONERS*** If you are the commissioner of an upcoming fantasy hockey league and will be holding a draft soon, PrimePucks has some goodies for you to distribute to your league members.  Look even better to your league members by giving them free stuff.  Who doesn't like free stuff?  Contact cj@primepucks.com to find out more.

The 2013-2014 PrimePucks Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide has been updated. All revisions are shown in yellow highlight.  You can access the update file by going to "MY ACCOUNT" located at the top of the HOME page.  Once you are your account profile, then click on "FILES" and go to the link where you can download the latest copy.  With the season fastly approaching, we will try to have updates every few days as events warrant.  If you have any questions, you can email any of us at ray@primepucks.com, steve@rimepucks.com and mike@primepucks.com NHL News: Daniel Cleary threw everyone a curveball when he supposedly was locked up in Philadelphia but had a change of heart and signed a 1-year deal with a familiar team, the Detroit Red Wings. Cleary is nothing more than a depth player especially with the off-season acquisitions of Daniel Alfredsson and Stephen Weiss and the emerging presence of rookie Gustav Nyquist....WIth the Carolina Hurricanes losing D Joni Pitkanen for the season with a heel injury, they needed to shore up their defense and did so with the 1-year signing of veteran defenseman Ron Hainsey. The veteran defender brings with him the experience and some offensive capabilities but don't expect much. PrimePucks continues to bring you the NHL IN 30 every day in the month of September, bringing you in-depth team analysis for the upcoming season. Today we analyze one of the Original Six teams, The Toronto Maple Leafs!  Don't forget to check back each and every day for the latest featured team! ***ATTENTION FANTASY HOCKEY LEAGUE COMMISSIONERS*** If you are the commissioner of an upcoming fantasy hockey league and will be holding a draft soon, PrimePucks has some goodies for you to distribute to your league members.  Look even better to your league members by giving them free stuff.  Who doesn't like free stuff?  Contact cj@primepucks.com to find out more.

Coming across an interesting read in the Detroit Free Press a few days back, Helene St. James speculated that Detroit's off-season acquisitions of Stephen Weiss and Daniel Alfredsson stand to benefit underachieving winger Johan Franzen the most. With the new influx of veteran scoring forwards on the Wing's roster, Coach Babcock can keep Datsyuk and Zetterberg together on the no.1 line, while the other three can form a formidable second offensive unit. Despite his tremendous upside, Franzen has yet to reach the 60 point mark in any season during his career, but perhaps this will be his best opportunity to do so. I think all three forwards will have a legitimate shot at cracking the 60-point barrier in 13/14, but if I had to choose one guy, I am going with Mr. Alfredsson. Reasons being, his motivation to earn his first Stanley Cup will help him turn the clock a few years back, while avoiding any serious injury. Also, he is a right-hand shot, which the Detroit power-play is in desperate need of. He can man the point, he could play along the boards.. You could be rest assured Coach Babcock will utilize him plenty alongside Datsyuk and Zetterberg on the top power-play unit. We have him scoring 58 points, but he does have 70-pt. upside.

Coming across an interesting read in the Detroit Free Press a few days back, Helene St. James speculated that Detroit's off-season acquisitions of Stephen Weiss and Daniel Alfredsson stand to benefit underachieving winger Johan Franzen the most. With the new influx of veteran scoring forwards on the Wing's roster, Coach Babcock can keep Datsyuk and Zetterberg together on the no.1 line, while the other three can form a formidable second offensive unit. Despite his tremendous upside, Franzen has yet to reach the 60 point mark in any season during his career, but perhaps this will be his best opportunity to do so. I think all three forwards will have a legitimate shot at cracking the 60-point barrier in 13/14, but if I had to choose one guy, I am going with Mr. Alfredsson. Reasons being, his motivation to earn his first Stanley Cup will help him turn the clock a few years back, while avoiding any serious injury. Also, he is a right-hand shot, which the Detroit power-play is in desperate need of. He can man the point, he could play along the boards.. You could be rest assured Coach Babcock will utilize him plenty alongside Datsyuk and Zetterberg on the top power-play unit. We have him scoring 58 points, but he does have 70-pt. upside.

After spending 17 seasons with the Ottawa Senators, Alfredsson is on his way to Detroit. He brings a ton of leadership to an already veteran lineup and will play with fellow Swedes NIklas Kronwall, Jonathan Ericsson and of course Henrik Zetterberg. He had 26 points in 47 games last season but scored 27 goals just two years ago.

OTTAWA (7) vs. PITTSBURGH (1) MUST-STARTS Ottawa: Erik Karlsson, Craig Anderson, Daniel Alfredsson Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, James Neal, Kris Letang, Chris Kunitz, Jarome Iginla SLEEPERS Ottawa: Kyle Turris, Sergei Gonchar, Milan Michalek, Cory Conacher Pittsburgh: Brenden Morrow, Paul Martin, Jussi Jokinen, Tomas Vokoun read more

UPDATES: Both Pittsburgh forwards James Neal and Jussi Jokinen appeared to be hurt after last night's game against the Islanders, as they were seen limping out of the locker room. Jokinen appears to be ok, as he was at practice today. Not quite so sure for Neal. OTTAWA (7) vs. MONTREAL (2) MUST-STARTS Ottawa: Erik Karlsson, Daniel Alfredsson, Craig Anderson Montreal: P.K. Subban, Andrei Markov, Tomas Plekanec, Carey Price SLEEPERS Ottawa: Kyle Turris, Milan Michalek, Sergei Gonchar Montreal: Michael Ryder, Max Pacioretty, David Desharnais read more

OTTAWA (7) vs. MONTREAL (2) MUST-STARTS Ottawa: Erik Karlsson, Daniel Alfredsson, Craig Anderson Montreal: P.K. Subban, Andrei Markov, Tomas Plekanec, Carey Price SLEEPERS Ottawa: Kyle Turris, Milan Michalek, Sergei Gonchar Montreal: Michael Ryder, Max Pacioretty, David Desharnais read more

Enjoy your coffee! Yesterday was my twin sons, Derek & Shane, birthday and they played in a basketball tournament final game but lost. However, my son Shane hit an almost 3/4 of the length-of-the-court shot off the glass as time expired at the half. That is something that he will always remember. Happy Birthday boys! I'm so impressed how Ottawa has maintained their high level of play without its major stars. Kudos Paul MacLean! Daniel Alfredsson and Sergei Gonchar have really shown their leadership skills this year. What has happened to Tampa Bay after they did so good early on? Robin Lehner, Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen are going to be real studs in net as they gain more experience. The Minnesota Wild are starting to roll much like they did in the first half of last season. read more

After missing the Sens last game with an illness Ottawa's captain will return to the lineup tonight.